(1) "Governing body" means the county legislative body.
(2) "Appointing authority" means the sheriff of a county having jurisdiction over any peace officer.
(3) "Peace officer" means any paid deputy sheriff, other than a chief deputy designated by the sheriff, who is in the continuous employ of a county.
(4) "Commission" means the merit system commission consisting of three persons appointed as provided in Section 17-30-3 and having the duty, power, and responsibility for the discharge of the functions of this chapter.
(5) "Department of Public Safety" means the department created in Section 53-1-103.